FTF - Olympics!

Today's post is short and sweet. In honor of the events that bring the family together in front of the television and bring out our competitive natures as well as our country pride, my Favorite Thing this Friday is the Olympics!

(Picture from Yahoo webpage.)
Sorry you Aussie's, Brits, Irish, Canadians, etc.  I'm rooting for the good old USA!

It will be nice to watch the opening ceremonies and the games.  Glad it's time to whoop some sporty butt! (oh, wait, did I just throw down a challenge?! LOL)

Check out some other FTF's over at Shay's blog (if she's hosting this week, that is.)

Cheers!
Beck

FTF - Donation Quilts

I was looking at my quilt tops the other day and I had a bit of a talking to with myself.  I have a goal this year to create 6 charity quilts, start to finish. It's ambitious for me b/c I also have a goal this year to reduce the WIPs drastically.  So far, the charity quilts have been the motivation to finish the WIPs so I don't have tons of tops hanging about.

Now that I've said that, I've got one charity quilt completed

and one additional top completed.

I have been thinking of donating this next top to a local ACTS Shelter to have on hand when a young one comes in. It's a design I tried but wasn't in love with and has no home. I thought a child who needs comfort and a little fun in his/her life might like it.  What do you think?

So, that would be three.  I also have squares cut for a fourth top but haven't put them together yet.

I think I'm doing okay but at the same time I'm still dissatisfied and think I need to do more.  I actually feel like I'm being called to do more. I've felt that way for awhile, now but again, I've been putting it off so I am not taking on more than I can chew with family and work added to the mix.  This makes me feel guilty.

I need to get my house in order, and do it now, because my 'waiting' for the right time is pretty much over. I don't know when I will officially reach out to the group I'd like to be a part of but I know it's going to be this year at some point and probably sooner rather than later. It's not as big a deal as I'm making it sound, it's just a bigger time commitment than I'm used to being able to give.

Anyway, it brings me to my FTF today. My favorite thing is creating and donating quilts to charity.  I love knowing that each stitch is carrying prayers, love, blessings, good will, healing and comfort to someone in the world.  I love hearing the stories others tell when they give a quilt away and I enjoy hearing about the good feelings the givers get in the process.  It's such a wonderful circle of love.

In the last couple of years, I've made and donated 3 quilts and 2 blocks for a quilt.

As I readied this post today, I paused in uploading my photos to read another's post.  Please have a read, it's a great example of how one donation, can have a great impact.

Alycia Quilts: The Start of Healing

That said, if you don't have time to make a whole quilt, perhaps make a top and partner with a quilter who will quilt it. Send it off to your favorite charity.  Children's Hospitals often have need for comfort quilts... go small.  All I'm asking is, if you haven't yet, please consider donating.

I hope you have a wonderful weekend. Check out Shay's blog for other FTFs this week!

Cheers!
Becky

Project Gingham - "Despite the Memo re: Gingham Day, Sue Does Her Own Thing"

At the beginning of June, I browsed over to Live a Colorful Life and saw she was one of three people hosting a giveaway with gingham fabrics. I wasn't going to enter. While I like gingham, I just had no vision for it for quilting. I'd go so far as to say I was beginning to hate it b/c my mother gave me a few of her gingham fabrics when I started quilting and I wanted to get rid of them but just couldn't do it for some reason. To know me is to know that I then felt like they were useless clutter taking up serious fabric space. However, something compelled me to enter the giveaway and then to hop over to Occasional Piece - Quilt and Krista Stitched and enter their giveaways, too!

Even as I left the last comment, I wondered what was wrong with me. That the last thing I needed was more fabric I had no idea how to use, even though I promised that if I won I'd make something and post it on July 4. I contented myself with the fact I wouldn't win. OF COURSE, that's where I went wrong! I shouldn't have thought that. Or maybe I should be glad because I think I came up with something kinda cool. It's TOTALLY out of my typical style and I learned a lot so let's get down to it and share with you what I did.

Go take a look at the other participants creations. There's some nice creativity out in blog land and for the loving gingham crew (which I'm now firmly entrenched), it's some good inspiration for this nice fabric.

Elizabeth, of Occasional Piece-Quilt
Krista, of KristaStitched
Cindy, of Live A Colorful Life
Rachel of The Life of Riley

Suz, of PatchworknPlay
Kris, of Duke Says Sew What

Additionally, I'm linking this post to 2 other linkee parties I like to participate in. Sew and Tell Friday by AmyLouWho (although it's only through Instagram this week #sewntell) and Favorite Things Friday by Quilting in My Pyjamas b/c Gingham is once again a favorite of mine thanks to this project!

Now, onto the details. I started with the winning green, yellow and brown bundle and an idea. The idea came initially as a joke in one of the giveaway questions, "what would you do with the gingham?" I replied, "something with the NY Beauty block, Dresden plates and Sunbonnet Sue."
I then pulled all the gingham fabrics I could find from my own stash.
After that, I pondered. I knew I wasn't obligated to the idea I threw out but I also couldn't shake it and so I decided to challenge myself by using each of those three patterns. Between Sue and the red gingham, a picnic scene was easy to imagine. Green gingham for grass, red for a blanket, blue for sky and brown for a picnic basket and Sam's clothes.

So I cut out a Sue and Sam. Immediately, I knew I could not have Sue in gingham. I'm not sure why, but she had to be different and stand out. Since this was due to be revealed on July 4th (I'm sorry I'm late everyone), I chose patriotic fabric for her dress.

Since most picnics occur in the sunshine, well, the NY Beauty became the sun.


But how can I get dresden plates in there? And how to use the the flowered gingham I had? Wait, fields of flowers and a fence. Yes!



I realized that this meant I needed to be conscious of depth in the design now and that was my most difficult part. I made a mistake with the pink bushes on the bottom right, where I should have reduced their size as I went toward the middle.

Despite noticing it was off somehow, I didn't figure it out until after all the quilting. I certainly wasn't going to change it then! LOL

I decided to quilt each part differently in an effort to keep a pictorial look. The sky is simple waves and the sun, radiating out.

The flower fields, well, accented to look like fields at a distance, I hope.
The grass is in small, spiky type design. I felt like it was an EKG line as I was quilting it so that's what I'll call it. "EKG continuous line design." -grin-

I have it all quilted and ready to bind when a friend comments I should quilt little ants into it. Brilliant, but since I don't want to reload it onto the frame, I pondered embroidering the ants after the fact. However, during a little sewing room clean up, I ran across a scrap stash and found fabric with ants on it. How lucky was that? I put Steam-a-Seam strips on the back, painstakingly cut them out and then ironed those babies on. The result went from a quilt I was proud of and liked to a quilt I was proud of and really brought a smile to my face.

I am proud bring to you, "Despite the Memo re: Gingham Day, Sue Does Her Own Thing"
Since my mom's birthday is in a couple of weeks, and since she loves Sunbonnet Sue and Sam, plus most of the gingham was hers to begin with, this little baby is going to her as a birthday present. I know she'll be tickled.

And now you know, between work and this little bugger, why I haven't been posting.


Cheers!

Becky

FTF - Weekends

I am dedicating this post to that one thing we can all, most of the time I think, agree is a blessing.

WEEKENDS

This week, weekends are the most favorite thing of mine.

That's all.

Cheers!
Beck

Blogger's Quilt Festival - The DWR, one last time

If you are here from the Blogger's Quilt Festival hosted by Amy's Creative Side, WELCOME and if you are a regular reader and are here because you know I love you, THANKS for your patience while I write, one more time, about the Double Wedding Ring quilt. Lastly, if you are here for FTF, the Festival is my FTF this week.... check it out and you can see why.)

My feature quilt for this Festival is a recently finished Double Wedding Ring quilt. Through it all, it's been "The Double Wedding Ring".  No special name because the pattern, when said out loud by me, in whatever tone I use at the moment, accurately reflects my feelings and opinions about this quilt of mine. I have grown to love this quilt, after cursing it, hating it,  praying to the quilting goddesses about it, seeking assistance from all of you regarding it, procrastinating on it, and forcing myself to get it done.

The background: I started quilting in late 2005 and blogging in 2007. It was in 2007 that I started the ambitious project of the king size double wedding ring quilt. I did not know how to sew curves, or even how to do a double wedding ring but I thought, "surely I can do this. I've sewn some clothing with pleats and I can sew a good straight stitch, I can do a curve."

HA!

I plugged ahead. I bought fabric (without a pattern, just bought a ton of Aunt Grace repo fabric). I found some patterns on the internet and did a couple practice, test pieces with scraps.  At this point, I learned I was screwed.  I wanted to make this beautiful quilt for my girlfriend for her wedding in July and I didn't know the first thing about getting it done right. This was a tough pill to swallow but swallow it, I did.  She would not be receiving this quilt by July but surely, I could still figure it out and get it done, right?

Yup, royally screwed.

Method, after method, including the purchase of a special foot and no luck. The beautiful thing I discovered, however, was the internet quilting community! I found you all to be helpful and enthusiastic in your assistance to my questions.  At the end of the day, I was pointed to the Quiltsmart Method. This method is basically an applique type of method and it worked beautifully. The blocks finally stated coming together quickly and I got in high hopes I could have this done for my friend's first anniversary.

Until I got the top done. Then I realized I knew nothing about quilting a large quilt except I didn't want to pay to send it out (thinking my work was too novice to send to someone else who was so accomplished - wrong, I know, but I was insecure then) and I knew I didn't want to try to quilt it on my domestic machine. I had been pondering a mid-arm and frame and this just became the final push to get one. So I did. Then I felt I needed to do some good custom quilting so the top was set aside while I practiced and learned all the intricacies of quilting on a frame. Then we had some family moves and the top went into storage.

When I took the top out of storage, I had water stains on it. Again, the helpfulness of the online community came to my rescue. "Quilt it anyway," you said.  "Wash it after with a color catcher when you are done," you said. I did both and it worked.

I practiced custom quilting on this quilt, I've learned a new marking technique using the Frixon Pens (posts here and here), and I've realized a true sense of accomplishment.

This quilt has grown with me. As my skills have grown, this quilt has become a symbol of the changes and new abilities.  It has also become an example of my own confidence in my work.

The husband loves it, I love it and instead of being given to my girlfriend, it now resides on my bed. (ps - this is a king sized quilt.) 

Heck, even my puppies, who are the greatest fans of my quilts, love it!

The moral of this long story, keep trying new things and if you set something aside to finish later, get back to it eventually. It's worth finishing it off and seeing how your new techniques and skills take that top you felt so so about to something you love.

I hope you enjoy the rest of the Festival. I plan to browse and browse until I can browse no more this week. I also plan to check out the Sponsor links and do a bit of shopping. I have to show my gratitude for their sponsorship, right?  -wink- Maybe you can take a look, too, these are some great events we get to participate in (and you can join the Festival, too), in part, because of these sponsors.

Thanks for stopping by!
Beck

Favorite Things Friday - The Hubs

So I was looking through all my posts and realized I wrote about Hubs hunting at once before when I was bragging on his hunting skills but for all the FTF's I've written, I have not mentioned him.  That just seemed like I should maybe let you know he rates above the music, quilt shows, coffee mugs, and Dirty Little Secrets.

So here's the thing... HUBS RATES over it all. He's a good man. We've been together 10 years now, married 6 and while we've certainly had our ups and downs, we are prevailing.  This year, most recently, we hit a rough patch.  It resulting in an extremely real conversation but one which just had to be had. Both of us have determined to do better, show each other our love and appreciation more. To stop taking the other for granted so much, you know?

Hubs has come out of retirement and is now finishing up his time at the police academy to start his new job as a deputy sheriff.  The irony is, he's been  law enforcement/military his whole life. It's a long few months but he's going to graduate top of his class and I'm very proud of him for working hard at doing his best through it all.

Hubs makes me happy, he's my home, and I'm lucky to have him. I love you, hubs.

To check out other FTFs, click on my side bar link.

Cheers!
Beck

Favorite Things Friday - Ice Cream

Yep, I said it. In the middle  of winter, in the midst of my healthier lifestyle committment, ice cream is my favorite thing.

I was asked the other day what my favorite food was and ice cream made the top. Probably because I haven't had it in so long and also because it is and always has been my "cure all" food. Not chocolate, ice cream.

When hubs and I went on our second date, we passed an ice cream truck and I mentioned this. Then later in the day (we were walking around DC) I was feeling peckish. He saw another truck, suggested the ice cream and low and behold, I was a happy girl again. He learned then how easy to please I'd be. Just give me food or ice cream and my moods would be readily handled (or so he thought).

I'm a simple gal when it comes to ice cream. Just the basics here, the stuff that was cheap when I was a kid are what I hold true to now. I don't want a bunch of crazy flavors unless I'm mixing it up myself and that's not that often. 

Give me neapolitan, chocolate chip, mint chop, or fudge swirl if I'm purchasing from the store. Maybe french vanilla for a treat but I have to eat that with some mini chocolate chips, chocolate syrup and a cherry. 

I'm a wicked sucker for those soft serve carts. Always the same, chocolate/vanilla swirl with rainbow sprinkles.  Oh, I could live off that. My hips can tell you I've tried!

If I'm in bind and I just need some ice cream while I'm out and about but fast food is my only choice, hands down, Wendy's chocolate frosty with the chopped up M&Ms.  Oh lord!

I will add, a new favorite, the Oreo Ice Cream at Cold Stone Creamery.  I dedicated a small portion of a post to it here.

I'm craving ice cream these last couple of days. I'm going to try to drink some milk and see if that curbs the craving but if not, and you don't hear from me this weekend, send help. I've over-indulged and gone into an ice cream induced coma.

Oh, I love ice cream... (disclaimer, these pictures were pulled from Google search for pictures)

Check out other favorites by linking on the FTF button on my side bar. Join in yourself. :)

Cheers!
Beck

Last Favorite Things Friday of 2011!

Yes, it's the last FTF for 2011. To see what others are touting as their favorite things, hope on over to Quilting In My Pyjamas for the linkee party. Maybe add your own link while you are there. :)
For my last FTF of 2011, I wanted to mention how great it is my mother started a little tradition with her kids. She had us all help make or pick out and hang specific Christmas ornaments. As time went by and when she was able to while we were older, she bought special ornaments for us or our kids the first couple years of their lives. Then, it became our turn to continue this new tradition or let it fall by the wayside.  I choose to continue it because there is nothing better than putting ornaments on my tree each year and having a memory that goes along with it.

For example, the ornament that denotes my current opinion about mornings without coffee.

Or maybe, if I were a cartoon character, who I would be?

The gift from a team member of mine when I was coaching basketball.

How about the ones that remind me of when hubs was deployed and/or of our lives in and the forever association/family ties we will have with each and every military family out there?

The one I purchased for the hubs last year b/c he and I have fallen in love with the Vizsla breed.  Oh, don't let me forget the one that reminds me that I'm a loyal fan of the Miami Dolphins and Dan Marino in particular!

The one my mom purchased for hubs the first year we were together b/c she called him a Grinch and then thought it would be funny to give him the ornament...

The first baby ornament (you know, I never did do one of these for my second kid...)

The ornaments from Grandma or mom to the kids and even the ones from the kids to me.

The ornaments that are my husband's and my keepsakes from our trips together.
To Louisiana

To Puerto Rico

To Las Vegas

To Oroville, CA for a friend's wedding

and to Ireland (b/c we weren't collecting ornaments at the time we first honeymooned but hopefully I
will find something appropriate representing our trip, this year.)

How about the ones that remind me of family? My brother is a huge Snoopy fan and my nephew is currently all about Spiderman. I am anticipating him finding Spiderman on my tree this year.

There are also the ones I received as a gift from a dear friend when I first married. I thought it odd at first, to receive Christmas ornaments when the wedding wasn't near the holiday but then I realized the awesomeness of the gift. First tree, need ornaments, have memories forever of the wedding AND friendship.

 Oh, the one my mom painted (colored or whatever) and the ones I made.

Let's not discount the more traditional items like those pesky elves resurfacing from grandma's garage and the pickle.  In our family, it's such a game to hide the pickle and the first to find it wins a prize. When the kids were younger, this was very competitive. Now as they are older, it's still competitive but it's more about reliving the fun of earlier years searching.

Lastly, I would be remiss if I didn't let you know I had ornaments which also remind me of the very reason for Christmas day.

Well, that's all for this installment of Favorite Things Friday. I hope you've enjoyed my little jaunt down memory lane and seeing some of the special items which adorn my tree.

Happy Holidays, Everyone!
Beck